Mikel Arteta has played down the injury fears surrounding Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri after he limped off against West Ham.
The 17-year-old has been in sensational form since returning from injury following a three-week lay-off in January.
Nwaneri produced a man of the match display against Leicester City a fortnight ago and looked set for an extended run in the first team in the continued absences of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Hale End Academy graduate struggled to make an impact in Saturday’s damaging 1-0 defeat against the Hammers that has all but ended his side’s Premier League title challenge.
A disappointing afternoon for Nwaneri and Arteta was compounded by the sight of the Arsenal star limping off with seven minutes remaining.
The Gunners are back in action tomorrow night against Champions League chasing Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and Arteta is hopeful Nwaneri will be fit enough to feature.
Arteta said: ‘Ethan [Nwaneri] was just cramping, obviously his load has been very different in recent weeks, but he’s fine. Bukayo [Saka] & Gabi [Martinelli], they are progressing really well, but still a bit far to come back.’
While they remain in the midst of an injury crisis, not helped by Myles Lewis-Skelly’s upcoming suspension, the return of Ben White represents a welcome boost.
The versatile defender has missed over three months following knee surgery but made his comeback a second half substitute last weekend.
‘He is a player that has given us something very special, especially in that right unit,’ said Arteta.
‘We haven’t played the right unit at all this season with him, Bukayo [Saka] and Martin [Odegaard].
‘It is great to have him back, more options, his energy, the way he is around the team. He certainly has been missed.’
Liverpool’s win over Manchester City on Sunday, meanwhile, meant the runaway leaders extended the gap at the top to 11 points, albeit having played a game more, but Arteta is not ready to concede the title.
He said: ‘If not I will go home. Mathematically it is possible. You are there, you have to play every game, suddenly three days ago we could close a gap and you are like ‘you are one-and-a-half games away’. It doesn’t matter, we have to continue to go.
‘The difficulty is higher than three days about but if you are going to win the Premier League you have to do something special.
‘If you are going to win the Premier League with the circumstances we have you will probably have to do something that nobody else has done in the history of the Premier League.’
